Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams returns after health scare
Williams, who has been sidelined since March, has returned to Foxborough.
Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams was at the team facility in Foxborough on Tuesday, coach Mike Vrabel told reporters.
An undisclosed illness caused Williams to miss an extended amount of time during the spring. He had previously told reporters that he experienced a “health scare” back in March, but declined to say what it was.
Williams’s return was a welcome one, Vrabel said.
“Big T is here. Ready to go,” Vrabel said. “He’s been out on the field with us the last couple of days. Players were excited to see him. I was excited to see him.”
For the third time in three seasons, the Patriots will have a new coach overseeing their defense.
New England didn’t have an official defensive coordinator under Bill Belichick in 2023. DeMarcus Covington lasted one season as defensive coordinator under Jerod Mayo.
Williams has a lengthy history woking with Vrabel during their time with the Titans from 2018 through 2023.
“He’s the only d-line coach that I’ve ever had,” Vrabel said. “Just a great reach to every player on the football team. I saw him reach young offensive linemen who were across the ball, but I saw him work with them extensively in different drills or pass rush drills.”
“He’s got a great perspective,” Vrabel added. “I think he’s helped me personally to kind of reach guys I maybe haven’t been able to reach. He’s been a great mentor for young coaches as well. I think our players have always responded very well and his units have always been prepared and productive no matter who he is coaching.”
Williams spent last season as the defensive line coach/run game coordinator for the Lions.
Detroit had the fifth-stingiest run defense in the league last year in terms of total rushing yards allowed (1672). Detroit allowed the fewest rushing attempts in the league (369), and allowed just nine runs of 20+ yards which ranked seventh in that category. Opponents averaged 4.5 yards per carry.
Inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr served as interim defensive coordinator during Williams’s absence.
Vrabel cracked a joke when asked if Williams was a “full go” for training camp, which starts on Wednesday.
“God no. No coach should be a full go, including this one (in reference to himself),” Vrabel said. “I haven’t seen any restrictions. He’s not on PUP and he’s not on NFI.”
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